Opposition leader crisis will be resolved in 48 hours: Mano Ganesan

COLOMBO(News 1st) - The Speaker stated the post of an opposition leader will only come into effect when he makes an official announcement on the matter at the next Parliamentary session in keeping with Parliamentary tradition. He added that this will only be carried out after the MPs from the opposition reach an agreement on the position of Opposition Leader and officially inform him of their decision. The Speaker says he received a letter bearing the signatures of 57 MPs representing the United National Front requesting the post of Opposition Leader be given to MP Sajith Premadasa. According to a statement from the Office of the Speaker, the Speaker had sent a copy of the letter to the General Secretary of the United National Party as well. In the letter, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya requests the UNP General Secretary to direct his attention towards the request made by the 57 MPs, and officially communicate to him the stance of the United National Party which is now the main political party in the opposition. As two contradicting opinions regarding the post of opposition leader have been presented, the speaker has informed the MPs of the opposition to discuss the matter and to inform him of the final decision in this regard. Meanwhile, The leaders of the member parties of the United National Front met with Ranil Wickremesinghe and Sajith Premadasa separately today. The Party leaders said that their intervention to reach a settlement was successful. Parties supporting the United National Front met with Ranil Wickremesinghe at the UNP party headquarters at  Siri Kotha today. According to our correspondent Rauff Hakeem, Mano Ganeshan, P. Digambaran, Rishaad Bathiudeen, Patali Champika Ranawaka, Rajitha Senaratne and a group of UNP parliamentarians attended the meeting. Parliamentarians Navin Dissanayake and Mayantha Dissanayake entered and left the party headquarters during the meeting. UNP MP Mayantha Dissanayake noted that Ranil Wickremesinghe will remain as is and however they will work within the democratic framework of the party. After the meeting with Ranil Wickremesinghe Rajitha Senaratne and Chathura Senaratne left the party headquarters without speaking to the media. UNP MP Professor Ashu Marasinghe noted that there is no crisis and the opposition leader would be announced by the general secretary of the party. He added that Ranil Wickremesinghe is ready to step down but will wait until the next leader is ready enough. Mano Ganeshan, leader of the Tamil Progressive Alliance shared that the public will be informed of a resolution within 48 hours and they are already in the second phase of the discussions. Rauff Hakeem, Leader of Sri Lanka Muslim Congress noted that they would bring forward a proposal where everyone wins and helps them to move forward. The party leaders met with Sajith Premadasa and held discussions today. Mano Ganeshan said that the discussions were successful and added that they will meet with Sajith Premadasa again today. He also said that both parties agreed not to disclose information regarding the discussions and the agreements to the media.